The PIO Podcast

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Greg Matusky is a passionate student of human communications and how it powers our culture, economy, and future. As CEO of Gregory FCA, one of the 40 largest PR firms in America, he has helped develop the communication skills of hundreds of professionals, providing them with insights from more than 40 years of experience in storytelling, from his beginnings as a magazine article writer to his present role as head of Gregory FCA.

A student of Gladwell, Pinker, and Chomsky, he is not afraid to delve into the rabbit holes of linguistics and cognition to uncover the process of human communications and share his discoveries. His most recent interest lies in artificial intelligence and how AI transforms corporate communications and public relations. In that respect, he oversaw the development of one of the first generative AI tools for public relations professionals, Gladwrite, which his team created before OpenAI introduced ChatGPT in November 2022. In early 2023, the team at Gregory FCA launched WriteRelease, a free AI press release creation tool customized to produce more than 70 news release types. Matusky’s fascination with AI is driven by a deep desire to allow others to do it digitally in seconds, which took him years to master.

Last year, Matusky launched his podcast series, "The Disruption is Now," where he interviews leaders across various industries to explore how AI impacts their fields.

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Michael Sugrue began his law enforcement career in the United States Air Force as a Security Forces Officer in 1998.  As a Security Forces Officer, Michael specialized in Law Enforcement, Global Force Protection, Anti-Terrorism, Nuclear Security, Foreign Air Field Assessments and Air Base Ground Defense.  

Michael served in a variety of assignments, including Flight Leader, Flight Commander, Senior Watch Officer, Chief of Command Post, and Chief of Security Forces.

Michael served all over the United States, Europe, the Middle East, and South America.  He was also a Security Forces Phoenix Raven with the unique identifier of #1173.   Michael honorably separated from the Air Force as a Captain in 2004.

Immediately after the Air Force, Michael was hired by the Walnut Creek Police Department, where he served in a variety of assignments including Patrol Officer, Driver Training Instructor (EVOC), Field Training Officer (FTO), SIU Detective, Undercover CA DOJ Narcotic Task Force Agent (Contra Costa County), Public Information Officer (PIO) and Patrol Sergeant.  

Michael was awarded the Walnut Creek PD Distinguished Service Medal in 2014 for his heroic and life-saving actions during a Fatal Officer Involved Shooting in 2012.  

Michael ultimately medically retired in 2018.  He is now a Peer Volunteer at the West Coast Post Trauma Retreat (WCPR) and an Ambassador for Save A Warrior (SAW).  

Michael is a dedicated advocate for awareness, prevention, education, and training on Post Traumatic Stress Injury (PTSI) and First Responder Suicide Prevention. Michael continues to speak at law enforcement agencies all over the United States.

Subject in Mission 22 “Smash The Stigma” short documentary film, and subject in full-length documentary film “Residual: Cumulative Trauma and PTSD in First Responders.”

In his International #1 BEST-SELLING book, RELENTLESS COURAGE: Winning the Battle Against Frontline Trauma, along with Dr. Shauna Springer, PhD, they tackle the complexity of trauma within the law enforcement community, uncovering the unspoken barriers, and outline a path to healing.

RELENTLESS COURAGE was released in Spring 2022 and has been described by Lt. Col. David Grossman, best-selling author of On Killing and On Combat, as “one of the most important books of our time” and “the natural successor to On Combat.”

 HIS NEW BOOK IS AVAILABLE HERE 

amzn.to/3vDZvSw

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Stephanie "Steph" Bishop currently serves as a Public Information Officer and member of the Command and General Staff of California Interagency Incident Management Team 4 (CIIMT 4), a Federal Type 1“All-Hazards” Incident Management Team. Stephanie serves as the lead managing and mentoring other Public Information Officers to establish and coordinate all media, community, and stakeholder relation information needs during an incident. In addition, she is responsible for establishing and maintaining positive interpersonal and interagency working relationships with local, state, tribal, and federal governments to ensure the right message is being delivered to those affected promptly and accurately.

Before joining CIIMT4, she had a diverse and impressive background in various fields related to public safety, communications, and emergency response that gave her a unique perspective on the challenges faced in public relations. Stephanie was introduced to public information during her 18 years in law enforcement, specializing in child crimes and human trafficking, where she would assist in communicating with the media and public about ongoing investigations and high-profile cases.

With over 25 years of experience and training, she has a wealth of knowledge and skills that she brings to her role as a Public Information Officer. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Criminology from Regis University. She attended Purdue University, obtaining a Master’s in Crisis and Strategic Communications and Strategic Management. Stephanie has a passion for sharing her experience with others through teaching and has been a subject matter expert in strategic communications. She is an instructor for the USFS and NPS in Region 5 S203 Public Information Course, L952 All Hazards Public Information, and assists in mentoring and coaching in Command and General Staff courses.

Stephanies Email

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Dr. Jonathan Schwabish is an economist, writer, teacher, and data communications expert. He is considered a leading voice for clarity and accessibility in how analysts, researchers, and scholars communicate their findings. Across four books, he has provided a comprehensive guide to creating, communicating, and distributing data-rich content. Better Presentations coaches people through preparing, designing, and delivering data communication products; Elevate the Debate helps people develop a strategic plan to communicating their work across multiple platforms and channels; and Better Data Visualizations details essential strategies to create more effective data visualizations. His most recent book, Data Visualization in Excel, hit bookshelves in May 2023 and helps readers create better graphs and charts in the Excel software tool. He is on Twitter @jschwabish.

Connect with me:

PolicyViz website (http://policyviz.com/)
Substack (https://jschwabish.substack.com/) 
Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/policyviz)
Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/jschwabish/?hl=en)
LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanschwabish/)
Twitter (https://twitter.com/jschwabish)
YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/c/JonSchwabish)

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Darren Wright is currently the Public Information Officer for Oro Valley AZ Police.

He retired from the Washington State Patrol as a Sergeant, after serving 31 years. His final assignment was the Headquarters Public Information Officer (PIO), where he handled major media inquiries, statewide impact incidents and oversaw the district PIO program.

He has a master’s degree in communications with a Public Relations concentration from Southern New Hampshire University and a bachelor’s degree in communication from the same university.

He is an Honorably discharged veteran from the United States Marine Corps.

Darren Wright - [email protected]

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Keaira Turner has a knack and passion for managing brands for companies and building strategic communication that helps bridge the gap between organizations and their consumers. Keaira attended the University of Alabama at Birmingham and graduated in December 2016 with her bachelor’s degree in communication studies. Deciding to further her education, Ms. Turner sought to gain her master’s degree. In 2019, Keaira graduated with honors in Integrated Media Communication from Webster University and is enrolled in a doctorate program at Liberty University for strategic media. During her career, Keaira worked full-time within corporate communication spaces to bring more awareness and ideas on increasing marketing efforts. With a remarkable tenure in PR and marketing, Keaira has mastered the art of crafting and executing strategic communication plans. Her deep understanding of marketing dynamics and ability to leverage the power of communication have earned her widespread recognition and accolades throughout her career. This experience has led Keaira to assume the Director of Public Affairs role for the City of Chattanooga Police Department. Through her innovative ideas and unwavering dedication, she implemented various changes that heightened awareness and strengthened community relations.

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Lisa Farbtein
Lisa Farbstein is a dynamic, results-focused, creative veteran media relations/public affairs professional with more than 30 years of experience. She has been a spokesperson with the Transportation Security Administration for 13 years and is currently responsible for covering seven states, including seven of the largest airports in the country—JFK, Newark, LaGuardia, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Reagan-National and Dulles Airports.  Prior to joining TSA, Ms. Farbstein was the chief spokesperson for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority—or Metro--the subway and bus system in the nation’s capital, where she worked for 10 years. Ms. Farbstein has also served as the chief spokesperson for the Arlington (Virginia) Public School system and a spokesperson for Hood College, a small liberal arts college in central Maryland. She began her career as a journalist. Ms. Farbstein earned her bachelor’s degree from Muhlenberg College in Pennsylvania, and her master’s degree from Hood College in Maryland.

Emily Bonilla - Pieton

Emily Bonilla-Pieton has been with the US government for nearly 15 years and is currently the TSA's Lead Social Media Strategist. A first-generation Salvadorian-Puerto Rican child of immigrants and so-called "Army Brat," she credits her cultural upbringing and life experiences as the foundation for her current success. A lover of pop culture and storytelling, she once aspired to be a news reporter and quickly shifted gears to a different type of media. Now, as TSA’s lead social media strategist, she incorporates trending topics and helps make them into relatable but informative content. Much of her and her team’s work has been recognized nationally, including being recognized by Forbes magazine as "12 Examples of Vocal Brands That Stand Out on Social Media."

MyTSA App
TSA LinkedIn
TSA Instagram
TSA Facebook
TSA Twitter
TSA Youtube

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Allison Waters-Merritt has worked with the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office in Florida for 6 years as the agency's sole Public Information Officer. Before working as a PIO, Allison worked for 27 years in newspapers, starting as a photojournalist before moving to advertising, special sections editor, and news editor. She has a journalism degree from the University of Florida.

Putnam County Sheriffs Media Email Address [email protected]

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Keith Thornton, a public safety expert with almost 25 years of experience, has a diverse community service background. From volunteering as a firefighter, emergency medical technician, police officer, and 911 dispatcher to his current role as a public safety account executive in the private sector, Keith's dedication to public safety is unwavering. Beyond his professional responsibilities, he actively advocates for first responders, foster children, and LGBTQAI+ community while always emphasizing the importance of mental health support.

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Christopher Cook was appointed in 2022 as the Chief of Police for the City of White Settlement, Texas, a suburb of 21,000 residents in Western Tarrant County and nestled in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metropolitan Area, the 5th largest in the U.S., with almost 7 million residents. Prior to that, he served as a Deputy Police Chief for the Arlington, Texas Police Department. White Settlement, known as the gateway to national defense, is home to major defense industries, including Lockheed Martin and the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base-Fort Worth.

The White Settlement Police Department, one of only 186 agencies across Texas out of 2,700, is accredited by the Law Enforcement Agency Best Practices Accreditation Program, the gold standard for recognition, through the Texas Police Chief’s Association. The department, nationally recognized with awards, is a full-service law enforcement agency with 53 team members. In May 2024, Christopher became a published author with The Art of Strategic Communication, a Police Chief’s Guide to Mastering Soundbites, Storytelling, and Community Engagement.

This book culminated a three-year project that started while working as a Deputy Police Chief in Arlington, Texas, including writing and pulling resources together to assist law enforcement leaders and strategic communication advisors. Christopher Cook was appointed in 2023 to the Caruth Police Institute Executive Advisory Board, also appointed as an Associate Advisor to the Advisory Board of the Institute for Law Enforcement Administration and appointed to the Executive Board of the FBI National Command Course Association. He was also elected in 2023 to serve as a member of the Fort Worth Airpower Council, which provides support to military members and families. On December 6, 2023, Chief Cook was appointed to the International Association of Chiefs of Police – Police Professional Standards, Ethics, and Image Committee by IACP President Wade Carpenter.

Christopher Cook began his law enforcement career at the Tarrant County Criminal Justice Training Center in 1995 and eventually worked at the Arlington, Texas Police Department, where he assailed through the ranks and retired as a Deputy
Police Chief in 2022. While in Arlington, he served as the department’s Chief Spokesperson and Chief of Staff as a member of the executive team.

Chief Cook served as the Vice President, President, and Immediate Past President of the National Information Officers Association (NIOA), representing the largest group of government communicators in the world from 2019-2023. Chief Cook was appointed Chair for the Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCCA) – Public Information Officers (PIO) Committee in 2018, representing 78 of the largest police departments in the United States and Canada. He was also elected General Chair for the International Association of Chiefs of Police – PIO Section from 2015-2018. Chief Cook has also served as a Regional Vice Chair for the IACP.

Amazon link to the Art of Strategic Communication
Chief Cook's LinkedIn 

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